Desi Arnaz Sits Down with Bob Hope and Don Rickles | Carson Tonight Show

Original Airdate: 03/04/1976
#johnnycarson #desiarnaz #donrickles

[@Niles-Guy]

Desi carried so much respect that even Don Rickles stayed quiet

[@margerykirner5604]

Don Rickles is killing himself laughing at Arnaz.

[@Eddie_Schantz]

@@margerykirner5604 This is one Carson show that they did not need Rickles.

[@margerykirner5604]

@@Eddie_Schantz yes Agreed

[@hypolyxa7207]

@@Eddie_Schantz Meh, bs. His segment was great before Bob and Desi came on .:)

[@bobthebear1246]

Desi Arnaz was _naturally_ funny. And it is so incredibly sweet of him the way he talked about Lucy. You can clearly see that he still loved her. It's beautiful to watch this. ❤️

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Really makes me sad to think that they loved each other but could not live together. Although Desi had wonderful qualities he was an addict: sex, booze, and gambling. Happy for both of them that they found new partners whom they loved. However Desi had those addictions which carried on after his divorce and remarriage.

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

Desi smoking cigar boy people would flip out today if one lit one lol

[@akritas1453]

When he said the success was 90% due to Lucy, he was being honest. She was a force! Beautiful, intelligent, visionary, funny, great business sense. Lucy is the one who backed Star Trek when nobody else would!

[@MicheleMJJ]

Desi is a definite class act. I love hearing him talk, he hasn't lost a bit of his accent! Nobody could have played "Ricky Ricardo" better than Desi.

[@raywilliams6532]

I believe this is from 76. Listen to Desi breathe. He lived another 10 years before he died of lung cancer. Underrated performer. Simply never got the acknowledgement he deserved

[@timirish2563]

Yes, Desi was a brilliant businessman in the still-new territory of network TV. Eventually, he was so on the top he grew bored without the fire of his younger days. Lucille (through no fault of her own) got all the attention and credit. So the heavy drinking began. His staff started scheduling his meetings earlier and earlier in the day because Anaz was far gone after lunchtime. He was glad to sell his part of the company to his now ex Lucille. When you see him here, so well-tailored, so funny, so on top of everything, I feel perhaps he made the right choice. Desi Jr. got his father to stop drinking more than a year before Desi Sr.'s death. He still smoked countless cigars each day and that is what got him.

[@madhurimachatterjee5787]

And he still has a cigar in his hand

[@susanwest8239]

Thank you. I could tell he had a hard time breathing. Love Medic.

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

Poor darling Desi was GASPING for breath.

[@michaelpbird]

Lucy didn't make it easy for him....her resentments toward him was relentless...yet he loved her till the day he died

[@meijer78]

All that talent on the couch at the same time. Ed, Blake, Rickles, Hope, Desi and Carson. Incredible.

[@deserthound2605]

Amazing. This wouldn’t be possible today, no matter what combination of entertainers someone assembled.

[@redeastwood4850]

This may sound dumb, but I'll ask anyway... who was Blake, the guy next to Rickles. I knew who everyone was but him.

[@robertvance1873]

@@redeastwood4850 Robert Blake he had his own Detective Show called Baretta in the 70's he had a Cockatoo Bird named Fred.

[@larrysmith6797]

@@robertvance1873 He was famous way before Baretta.

[@robertvance1873]

@@larrysmith6797 I know that, but the guy didn't know Who he was and I was trying to help him.

[@ckhenson]

The starpower on that stage. Nothing today compares.

[@GlenStace]

John is nothing but class. He let Desi talk and he just listened

[@ultrakool]

right. now we have Fallon fawning, gushing and fake laughing us all into nausea

[@nkovi7424]

@@ultrakool nobody compares to Johnny. No one should even try.

[@kenwalker9937]

Johnny was smart that way.

[@TigerzLionzPistonzWingz]

I read your post before I watched the video. I STILL kept expecting him to be interrupted because they never let anyone tell a story these days. But this is now and that was then. And boy do I miss it.

[@yolandabendter903]

Of all the era"s,,,prior,,,none will ever,,, emulate these greats,,,They were cast from a one time mold,,,That can never be duplicated,,,What an Era,,,of greatness,,,

[@drivesideways6550]

Humble guy who always gave incredible respect to Lucy's talent, and knew the reason for his success. All superstars on that set, we don't have that kind of talent these days, but I'm glad I got to experience some of it as a kid in the 70's, and 80's.

[@John-gh3tc]

Oh we have talent these days. Different era. More humble. Had more respect back then.

[@reason5591]

He was a lazy drunk that took advantage of Lucy. It is well known, even years after they divorced she disclosed that she was used and abused by Desi. Really sad, she was a genuine genius.

[@irisortiz4420]

@@reason5591 You wrong was not like that

[@Frank00]

@@reason5591 Lucy was the talent and Desi was the business. He gave her credit and she gave him his credit. All the rest what you said made you sound like a mad high school girl.

[@TheDoctor1225]

@@reason5591 Yes, because everyone knows that no ex ever says anything bad about their former spouse. Consider the fact that any time he spoke of Lucy, he spoke of her in glowing, complimentary terms. Her? She put him down and slammed him at every opportunity, having 3 years to do it after he was dead and couldn't say anything to refute her. However "true" what she claimed may have been, class was not one of her strong points in that regard. She came across as a stereotypical angry, bitter divorcee.

[@lillianlopez2691]

Desi was SOOO GREAT!!! As we're ALL the mega stars on Johnny's show. There was NEVER a better late show host as MAGNIFICENT as Johnny Carson 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@philrisser6853]

bar none forsure

[@graceannemorgan1035]

I agree God bless Johnny and everyone.

[@bettycogswell9851]

Amen to that. I still miss him.

[@MrD5914]

Man Carson, Desi, Hope, Blake, and Rickles all together at the same time...it's like The Avengers of Hollywood legends.

[@charlie-obrien]

Great comparison... and Robert Blake is their Hawkeye Lol

[@rogueldr642smiythe9]

Still better entertainment than ANY of what is called late night these days.

[@timirish2563]

Indeed! This was TV worth staying up for. Nothing today comes close.

[@Oppenheimer1968]

@@timirish2563 All about the integrity and respect the ole skool displayed for eachother.

[@slidezone9056]

Agreed. The bar for talent seems to be set pretty low these days. And it's NOT the fault of the performers. Today, they have to be on the right "team". And they have be willing to compromise every ounce of integrity for the greater "cause".

[@gammadan1228]

It was said by Lucy Arnaz that her dad was the life of the party. Funny, warm and entertaining

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Unfortunately they life of the party was an addict: sex, booze and gambling - before he married, during his marriage, and after wards. His 2nd wife almost divorced him too.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Actually when he got drunk, which was frequent, he was explosive both on the set and a home.

[@kaypeany5141]

Lucie

[@genataylor460]

Who in the world, who is old enough, did not grow up watching I Love Lucy. Just one of the most hysterically hilarious shows ever.

[@BeverlyNelson-pb9wf]

I liked the one her and Viv made homemade bread

[@Hollandsemum2]

I didn't. My father hated it and I hated her constantly getting in trouble & castigated for it.

[@Oppenheimer1968]

Loved how she always designed crazy-a88 plans to get something back she lost or some issue she caused- poor Viv always had to take part in her "clearly thought-out plans".

[@user-ko7bb5kh4i]

My favorite show of shows.

[@Juliana65]

I miss these guys.... I miss these years..... loved the 70's.

[@BadCompany214]

I agree with you on all 100%!

[@tonyperez3920]

Desi was sharp as a tack in his golden years. Didn't stutter didn't pause didn't lose a train of thought

[@Marckymarc71]

Funny you say golden years--he's the same age here as Chris Rock and Tom Cruise are today.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Desi was a genius, he kept all the film and bought it from the network anticipating reruns.

[@jasoncinema]

Yep! He and Lucy were industry pioneers.

[@maulofamerica]

To point a fine point on it, before "I Love Lucy" aired, the network balked at spending the extra money it would cost to do the show on film. So, Desi said he and Lucy would pay for the additional production costs as long as they got to keep the film. And the rest is history.

[@timringgenberg2844]

@@maulofamerica They also owned the largest private production studio in the industry. Three separate studio complexes that all exist yet today. He also didn't think to spread the cost of production for the series over the entire year. Instead he would pay off the whole year as fast as possible which cerated all of this money before mid season. Not being part of the business really paid off for them.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Unfortunately, he sold the rights to I Love Lucy, back to CBS - for maybe 5million so he could buy RKO studios which became Desilu.

[@ronniebishop2496]

@@LJ-ht4zs Oh ok thank you for the information.

[@westfield90]

I miss all of them talented people.

[@kt9166]

Desi was one of the smartest men in Hollywood. He knew his strengths and his weaknesses, and always played to his strengths. He learned from his Dad and his family in Cuba how to be a leader. He and Lucy were formidable as a team. Desilu! WOW! And his book is great. Read it.

[@1965Flipp]

This really drives it home for me that I grew up during a wonderful time. I miss them all very much.

[@PorkChopJones]

RIP Desi Arnaz just hearing him talk brings back memories of watching I Love Lucy. Which has never been off the air since it's inception! I recall when it went into reruns, we watched the reruns over and over again. The point being I would always find something I missed, since back in those days if you went into another room etc. you missed a few minutes of the show, being able to record and replay television shows at home was still in the future.

[@moccalou]

And for a lot of us '90s kids, we're discovering whole episodes we haven't seen because they never aired on Nick at Nite!

[@Tony-uq4ig]

I still watch ',I love Lucy today '

[@phyllisbrown6969]

​@@Tony-uq4ig99o

[@bettycogswell9851]

The Johnny Carson show was all class...I still miss him.

[@drumlover1687]

Carson was, and will always be the greatest of all time! In my humble opinion.

[@OurSocietyMustChange]

Ya, the morons we got now can't touch Johnny Carson and the proffesionallism he exuded. Not political at all, just pure joy

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

Watch his last episode it was so good showed clips of all the legends on his show during his time running the night show . Made me cry so good

[@JustAFlyover]

Amazing interview. Amazing talent on the couch. Johnny Carson was the best ever. No one will ever top him.

[@jefsiv]

Even though he wore a bedazzled coat & neck scarf.

[@MatthewC137]

@@jefsiv I'd be willing to bet that he wore that for a skit in which he played Liberace. He did a lot of stuff not just interviews. Modern midwits would try to cancel him for this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKqXm3SLequlgck&ab_channel=JohnnyCarson

[@MatthewC137]

@@jefsiv This too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXvdZKOtobholck&ab_channel=JohnnyCarson

[@johnroberts4806]

Too think all of these great actors are all deceased now , may they , R.I.P. ! 🎥🤧🌷🌸💐🌺🌹🕊

[@larrysmith6797]

Blake is alive.

[@johnroberts4806]

@@larrysmith6797 Oh is that the one on the other side of Rickles ?

[@alansheiman4818]

@@johnroberts4806 Blake is the one in prison for killing his wife.🤡

[@johnroberts4806]

@@alansheiman4818 Yeah I remember hearing about that , her name was bonnie Blake ! 😞

[@tonybells131]

Desi and Lucy ! All the stars of those days were the best talents ever ! Singers,comedians ,actors ! All stars All of them .

[@jillkjv3816]

Yup. They're all crap today.

[@KhaladFaraday]

If it weren't for Desilu we wouldn't have Star Trek...

[@LOKI4404]

I get so emotional watching this. I watched reruns of I love Lucy still do. That’s where I first saw and fell in love with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Loved the times when he would perform and during this interview the voice rang out. When he spoke so lovingly of Lucy and gave her due credit he just showed the love that would always abide in them. Love him then, love him still, always have, always will. Babaloo!

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Before he died, his daughter called Lucy, asking if there was anything she wanted to say to Desi that he would not be awake much longer. Lucie Arnaz held the phone up to her father's ear and she heard her mother say: I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. He replied, I love you too, honey. A day later, he went into a coma, and shortly after he died. The daughter realized they last spoke on what would have been their 46th Wedding Anniversary.

[@bemore1134]

If talent was weighed in pounds, that entire set would've collapsed under the weight. The sheer ability to entertain that was in that 20 FT area, my goodness......

[@over50andfantabulous59]

Mr. Arnaz was the first to use multi cameras on the set of TV shows and others followed.

[@thebreakbarrelshow]

Rickles , Bob Hope , Desi , we don't get groups of legends like that anymore. Those were great times

[@richardl4562]

I miss the Tonight Show, there will never be another Johnny Carson and Legendary Actors and Comedians. Nothing compares.

[@kasumiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin]

You could spot a Don Rickles laugh from a mile away...

[@petesmitt]

Blake had a great laugh and not as fake sounding as Rickles..

[@larrysmith6797]

Blake's too.

[@karenleemallonee684]

We are so blessed that there was a man called Desi Arnaz, wonderful, brilliant, talented & handsome man! 🌼

[@JAY-wb2fv]

An excellent interview with Desi Arnaz, and a wonderful glimpse into these golden years of television. One can see how Desi was a brilliant force in this insular Hollywood television club.

[@ezGonzalez]

Johnny Carson best ever talk show! Second to none! He always had the best entertainers on his show! Desi Arnez,Bob Hope,Don RICKLES! Man! The good Lord brought me into his world at the right time! Those were the days!

[@dannycalley7777]

EZ G .................and Jay Leno in second !!!!!!!!

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

Don't forget Robert Blake. And Letterman was second behind Carson.

[@supermanbatman4992]

I was a really young boy when Carson retired... and I remember the whole question as to... JUST WHO IN THE WORLD IS GOING TO REPLACE JOHNNY CARSON??? ☺

[@t.s.t.4085]

King Anaz's family: My father is 86, and a Greek singer. I love this video because of the sweetness, and what these musicians did in those days. I'm younger, but grew up with the same kind of Dad.

[@nitro_001newman2]

Desi was such a humble guy, and a class act. All of us can learn a lot from him.

[@kevinbown424]

I could listen to this stuff all week long...what a crew the best of the best on this one. Love Desi Arnaz. Very Humble Guy.

[@threeballedtomcat9380]

This show always reminds me of the good old days ! I think this episode was in Spring of 1976 ish? In todays' world with all the changes and problems, Johnny Carson and guests serve as a great break and a change of pace. Thanks very much for the upload, always appreciated ! I was not quite 20 when this show aired originally...Wow. I messed around and got old.

[@peterchios9637]

How true well said.🎼☮️👊

[@threeballedtomcat9380]

@@peterchios9637 Thanks, my friend

[@gregamerson9172]

U n I are pretty close in age.man. I'll be 66 on 21st

[@cindygarmon307]

I was 15 and we are still so very young! First time I saw this though, love it.

[@gregamerson9172]

@@cindygarmon307 glad u feel great darling. I feel every one of my birthdays 👍👍

[@lynettenasseri753]

What a wonderful, humorous and interesting interview! Over all of the years this is the most informative interview of Desi then any I have seen and what a great host Johnny was. Talk show hosts these days are all about themselves and showing off. Johnny put the spotlight on his guests.

[@artlover1477]

Rickles was having so much fun!

[@melcrose]

A rare combination of time available for the interview and the talent to let the interview happen.

[@wilmetteentwistle9242]

I love hearing these old stories.

[@MrWolfSnack]

and they were brand new at the time too.

[@elizabethhestevold1340]

Revisiting, lots off play on words. Desi , brilliant .Love how generous he shares the successful with Lucy.💕🙏🇩🇰🇺🇸🌅

[@robertgsmith5761]

These Carson shows are the Golden Age if something !

[@billyrossi4661]

What a group of guys 👦. Could you imagine going out and drinking with this group.

[@starbellak5154]

i would not wanna go home... 🙃 😊

[@yvonnemurray5537]

Wonderful segment. Gosh, I grew up with he &/Lucy. One time I had a disagreement with my Mom, and my age 7. So I told her I was running away. She helped me pack a small & off I went. I got half a block down &;she yelled…”Lucy’s on!” I came running back!

[@omniavincitamor3823]

So cute😀

[@LJ-ht4zs]

That is so endearing - nice story

[@Derexican]

Desi had only turned 59 one month before this. Poor guy looks decades older than the rest. Bob Hope was a month shy of 73 in this. Miraculous.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Desi died at age 69; Bob Hope died at age 100.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Bob Hope's wife, Delores, died at 102 years of age. She was quite healthy up to a few months before she died.

[@diamondjim7560]

@@LJ-ht4zs When he was very old and it was clear time was getting short, his children asked him where he wanted to be laid to rest (his gravesite) there were two places they found. His response was classic Hope, “Surprise me”.

[@MrWolfSnack]

Smoking, drinking, drugs, it will take you down. I just turned 31 and if I lost some weight and dressed in age appropriate clothes I could pass for a high school student. Never touched any drink or drugs, none of that crap. Feel good, everything on me is all fine.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

@@MrWolfSnack So good for you. Health and happiness to you for years to come!

[@sunflowerz54]

Desi was a genius of his time!!! Thanks for Star Trek!!

[@vinyltapelover]

Desi, himself, when listening to him and those around him, was definitely not chopped liver. Actually he sounds quite humble of his success and appreciative. However, Lucille Ball, in 1962, bought out Desilu Studios from Desi Arnez and it was she who saved Star Trek by vetoing the Desilu Studios board of directors' unanimous decision to cancel the show after its second pilot episode due to its high production costs. I'm not that smart about it the is stuff, but as a Trek fan from way back, I happened to read and learn about Miss Ball's involvement with the series. As a young man out of highschool, I worked for a freight forwarding company that had the contract to deliver the Star Trek films to NBC studios in Burbank.

[@alansheiman4818]

@@vinyltapelover Very interesting story. What do you think would have happened to Star Trek had Desi Arnez not sold out his ownership in Desilu?

[@vinyltapelover]

@@alansheiman4818 A question of conjecture. Who is to know?. Maybe Star Trek came about the way it was supposed to...another "accident":). But maybe there is a better, meaningful question. What if Ricky and Lucy had remained exclusively married and together? What untold things would they have accomplished? What I appreciate about Mr Arnez is that he never failed to give proper acknowledgement to Miss Ball.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Star Trek and Mission Impossible was green lit by Lucille Ball; Desi sold his shares to Lucy. CBS did not want those two shows (too expensive) but Lucy liked them and gave it the okay.

[@diamondjim7560]

@@LJ-ht4zs Lucille Ball was the 900 pound gorilla in the room. As obnoxious as studio suits were/are, when Ms. Ball spoke the heavens quaked. Some snot nosed CBS executive wannabe would be sent to the woodshed if they tried to counter the red head.

[@XanBos]

I’m so glad that Desi could still put in good words about Lucy. They were the couple of comedy back in the day. Even now, my daughter loves watching the I Love Lucy show. Desi was quite the entertainer. This was so good to watch with Don and Bob there as well.

[@bigdindallas1]

Miss all these guys 😂💕

[@spockboy]

The man (and Lucy I think) who created the 3 camera sitcom set up used to this day.

[@user-ko7bb5kh4i]

.......And the reruns of I Love Lucy is still going strong. The show will turn 73 years old on October 15th of this year. I can't get enough of it.

[@kasondaleigh]

Wow! Great interview, - Johnny didn’t have to say a thing 😂 Desi giving credit to Lucy for everything That’s a gentleman.

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

Desi ruled Hollywood

[@WatchitforDays]

I didn't want the video to end ❤️

[@Local_yokels_monsters_myths]

Legend is not a strong enough word for Bob and Desi. I got to meet Bob Hope at his golf tourney… was a Ball spotter.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Also, Lucy knew Bob Hope for decades - they starred in 4 movies together and in many tv specials. Lucy last appeared with Bob Hope on an Oscar special a few weeks before she died. It was she who suggested that Bob Hope use Desi Arnaz on his radio show - they worked together 2 or 3 years.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Desi and Lucy supported each other during their marriage and after their divorce.

[@wesleyjohndelaney106]

What a character. He's very likeable

[@rpblank6768]

Three of the most legendary comedians in the history of show business (Carson, Rickles, Hope) and the funniest guy on the couch is a Cuban band leader. Wit, charisma, intelligence, creative and business pioneer...Desi was always underestimate, mostly due to his ethnic background.

[@karenbrown2135]

I love I Love Lucy! I have watched it since I was little in the 60's. I am watching it still (right now) on Pluto TV. They are on there way to Hollywood. Lucy still cracks me up after all of these years.

[@user-qm2vw6bz2k]

Me too

[@LJ-ht4zs]

@@user-qm2vw6bz2k I have watched ILL since 1951 - when we got our first tv. Still watch it now 2023. I no longer own a tv but watch it on my computer Paramount+.

[@miriammaldonado7848]

Bob Hope had a natural tremendous talent rest in eternal peace.

[@chuckselvage3157]

Classic he called his book A BOOK lol.

[@theherd5830]

Right before Desi died he said “I Love Lucy wasn’t just a title”….. Such a lovely man.

[@starbellak5154]

I miss all of these...amazing...talented...funny...Stars. And not only...🌹🌺🌹🌺

[@MountainMan.]

Lighting up heading to the commercial break. Those were the days.

[@stephani633]

So genuine.. & def underrated

[@mthompson8637]

His Love for Lucy is palpable!❤

[@terryasheim9038]

Desi is such a class act, and man i wish i had his hair

[@TomTom9290]

10:45 With all the smoke Desi was making, Johnny just couldn't resist to light one up too.

[@dmiller1000]

He smoked on every show, often continually through the show, up until some time in the 80s. Most people smoked, especially in social settings. He started hiding them under the desk in the 70s once it became less fashionable, but could never kick them. He died of emphysema.

[@miriammaldonado7848]

Desi Arnez was a genius rest in eternal peace.

[@jorgealmeyda5222]

I think Desi meant 1947 when he worked for Bob Hope. After Bob told his story, he said that Desi became the biggest thing four years later after he had played in his band.

[@HenPapirman]

I'm reading Desi's book right now - Amazing. Too bad he didn't come around to write Another Book because he was too ill.

[@leafyutube]

Legend overload in this video.

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

Love these great people. All gone sad they were the best. Desi was def great ❤❤

[@alansmithee183]

These old shows and interviews are a treasure. All these men are long gone but we have these memories.

[@GuitarAnthony]

None of these talk show frauds today could score a guest panel like this today of legends who actually wanted to be there.

[@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg]

Hollywood royalty right here!

[@kenwalker9937]

I think Desi Arnaz way under valued his contribution to I Love Lucy show. He was an amazing talent and person in the history of entertainment.

[@charlie-obrien]

He practically invented the way that modern sitcoms were filmed (multi camera) and recorded for sound. That's why "I love Lucy" and most Desilu productions still look so good today and have been a stalwart of rerun syndication for the last 50 years.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

@@charlie-obrien now it's over more than 65 years

[@huascar66]

Desi Arnaz. A true genius. The modern American sit-com owes its very existence to Sr. Arnaz.

[@johngore7744]

Johnny was great. I was born in 1961 so I grew up with him. I can’t believe his suit though. Lol

[@jeffreyabelson7171]

Imagine chilling with Bob, Robert, Desi, Don, Ed and Johnny!

[@pamczech5984]

I remember one time Johnny gave away a jacket he wore the night before it was just kind of shiny and the jacket didn't look good on tv so he gave it away to a man in the audience he did some crazy stuff

[@spiderlily4386]

@Pam Czech - I saw that episode! He asked who wanted it, and a young woman jumped up and ran down to the stage, put on the jacket, pushed the sleeves up a bit, did a model-like pose, and looked fantastic! And yes, the jacket had a pattern that the cameras couldn't handle. Little checks or something. Too bad i can't remember stuff like leaving a burner on under my oatmeal. 😂

[@pamczech5984]

@@spiderlily4386 I feel the same way I couldn't remember it was a woman but I just remember that jacket but I do remember I was doing my homework at the time it was some essay of some kind but I still remember that jacket loved it

[@thadstudebaker3370]

What a great segment. I have many great memories watching Johnny and guests such as these. Thank you for sharing.

[@jonathanlees6594]

I completely agree with you he was a genius Desi Arnaz Studios was a financial boom and he was so smart he knew like all these reruns were going to be so popular he bought all the rights he had everything he had control of everything

[@LJ-ht4zs]

CBS bought the rights back from Desi, he wanted the 5million (or so) in order to buy RKO.

[@LJ-ht4zs]

Desi sold off his rights back to CBS to have the money to buy RKO Studios. So he did not control the reruns or profit from them after that. (probably around 1956)

[@Locoandchooch]

I just looked up I love Lucy, 180 episodes in 6 years. I used to watch it in the late 70’s to early 80’s. That’s quite a bit of work. Loved it.

[@dottiscamprunamuck2830]

Desi was a great story teller. When star's talked about their lives instead of telling the rest how to live their's ❤

[@stephenannese8228]

It's 2023....and ....(I Love Lucy) is still ON....!!

[@robertjureller6680]

Original air date was March 4, 1976. Guests were Robert Blake, Don Rickles, Bob Hope and Desi Arnez. Johnny's outfit reminds me of "The Electric Horseman" (Robert Redford & Jane Fonda) that came out in 1979.

[@thomasleary2814]

LOL. When I first saw Carson's outfit I thought it was Halloween!

[@TheNightmareMan]

Just think every one of them has passed very sad Rest In Peace to Desi, Bob, Don, Ed and Johnny.

[@jeffjones3040]

Don Rickles style is contagious!

[@pistalo4911]

A few months before our nations 200th birthday. What a time it was

[@mistermusik]

My first personal TV set was an little old portable black and white. No cable, just antennas. And the first shows I ever watched on it were I love Lucy and the Honeymooners. I can still remember it. Great, great times. Love those shows as a kid. Respect these actors now as an adult. Taking great pains to show my kids the classic shows. I wish Hollywood was like it was back then.

[@ronnewman8364]

Miss the GREAT ONES .. They had CLASS

[@FIXTREME]

Desi and Don, what a combination 😂

[@bobcosmic]

Johnny Carson dressed as the Rhinestone Cowboy. There’re was one & only one Johnny Carson !

[@threeballedtomcat9380]

That is a fact !!

[@RayNDeere]

I think he was paying off a bet when Rhinestone Cowboy went to the top of the charts. He sings it at the beginning of that night's show.

[@bobcosmic]

@@RayNDeere Anything within reason is possible when it’s Carnac the Magnificent !

[@larrysmith6797]

On that show, Johnny sang Rhinestone Cowboy sitting on a donkey.

[@bobcosmic]

@@larrysmith6797 I do actually remember that broadcast, well I should do, I knew of Johnny Carson when he had one wife and black hair. Yes I’m that old ! 😂🤣😂

[@cruisetheautisticboy994]

R.I.P Johnny Carson, Dezi Arnaz, and Don Rickles 😢

[@PAAGddss]

The greatest in Hollywood were on that couch!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@TheJoeschmoe777]

I love how respectful Desi was when he talked about Lucy. If you hear Lucy talk in interviews about him she had a similar tone, talking about his successes and how Desi went from rags to riches (yes I know she called him a "loser" in one of her interviews, but she meant self sabotaging, not in an insulting way).

[@jimmiv5449]

I read his book it's a fantastic story & history of a real determined man with talent who loves taking chances.

[@eddiemautone209]

😊😊😊😊😊😊great show I love Lucy Lucy and Desi arnez were sensational

[@wisdomthroughaworldofwords1412]

Rickles is just trying to stay on TV for a week...Ba, Da, Dum. Carson zinged one in on Rickles at the very end of the clip. Too Funny. The whole interview was great. All those legends just sitting around talking. Rickles...seems like he was always doing Pilots that didn't take...except for CPO Sharkey.

[@NathanielEssex1849]

That would explain that famous scene from December 1976 after Don Rickles broke Johnny Carson's cigarette box.

[@mauriceortiz8817]

In the 70s Desi was a professor at USC. My High School film teacher John Fitzgibens was his student. He would tell us hilarious stories about him and also shared his contribution to the industry.

[@GSIP69]

Can you share a story about Desi?

[@mauriceortiz8817]

@@GSIP69 one that he shared was that he was on a strict budget implemented by his Business Manager so he was always borrowing change for the coffee machine. All the students loved him so they only laughed at the fact that he never paid anyone back. He mentioned that he was a great teacher and innovator of television production techniques. I'm happy he's gotten his well deserved dues.